GBA was established in 1982 by former Motor Magazine Road Test Editor and Ford PR Manager Gordon Bruce. The company rapidly evolved into one of Europe’s leading automotive communications consultancies, whose 20-strong team of top specialists was the first choice of many of the world’s major manufacturers and suppliers.

In 2005, part of the company was sold to a competitor, since when GBA has been successfully operated as a boutique consultancy, serving selected clients of its own as well as providing support to fellow marketing agencies and in-house PR departments.

About Gordon Bruce FCIPR

Gordon has enjoyed a lifelong passion for just about all engine-powered machines – it’s no coincidence that that excludes horses and gliders, neither of which he understands!

He is a qualified mechanical engineer, whose industrial training included researching and testing carbonfibre for the Concorde project (during which time he claims to have helped make the world’s first carbonfibre golf club) and working in the production engineering department of Lotus Cars (where, amongst other things, he designed the base for Colin Chapman’s boardroom table).

In 1971 he joined the technical staff of the then leading weekly car magazine Motor, rising to the role of Road Test Editor with responsibility for all road and track tests. During seven happy years on the publication he successfully raced, rallied and hillclimbed a range of vehicles, including Escorts and Capris supplied by Ford.

The relationship with Ford blossomed and in 1977 he left Motor to join their ranks, with responsibility for all UK product and motorsport PR. During his time with the company he organised some 15 car launches and looked after the PR requirements of the all-conquering rally team. He also managed the 150-strong press fleet, his TV deals for which included the Capris, Granadas and RS2000 immortalised by ‘The Professionals’.

Running GBA since 1982 has kept Gordon pretty busy, though he still raced fairly regularly until 1997 (successes include overall victory in the 1983 Intermarque Championship in an AC Cobra). He boasts a modest collection of cars and motorcycles and a lifelong interest in classic aircraft has led to flights in a Lancaster, Harvard and Dakota – a Spitfire sortie is pencilled in for 2017! He keeps fit by mountain biking around the lanes and fields of South Bucks and pumping iron under the watchful eye of his 29-year old son.